Machine for rinsing bottled fruits and the like



1952 B. c. EISENBERG ,6

MACHINE FOR RINSING BOTTLED FRUITS AND THE LIKE Filed July 1. 1949 3Sheets-Sheet 1 3nventor:

BERNARD C. EISENBERG a! W W t (Ittorneg Oct. 21, 1952 c E|SENBERG2,614,680

MACHINE FOR RINSING BOTTLED FRUITS AND THE LIKE- Filed July 1, 1 949 5Sheets-Sheet 2 (lftomeg I Y- O t. n e D n Oct 21, 1952 c ElSENBERG2,614,680

MACHINE FOR RINSING BOTTLED FRUITS AND THE LIKE Filed July 1. 1949 3Sheets-Sheet 3 ZSnncntor: B ERNARD C. E l5 ENBERG Patented Oct. 21, 1952TMACHINE'FOR' RINSING B'1,'.l.LED FRUITS D LIKE BernarrLQmE-isonberg,Brooklyn, Application July'lg'1949, SerialvNo. 102,485

. 6;.Claims.

invention relates'ltormachines--for-treatin bottledtfruitsor; moreparticularly, to machines for rinsing olives or-otherj fruits after they'have been filled in'bottles'.

.'Olive s,'for examp1e,- are usually filled in-bottles together with'pimentos andthen have to-berinsed several itimesby pouring "water"alternately into and out of 'thebottles. bottles mustbe turnedrepeatedly. This operation has been hithertoperformed ,by hand. Objects,of my invention are to "replace this hand Work'jby machine worlg to"provide a machine which rinses the bottled-fruits automatically; andthereby T170, make the rinsing operation less exp. ns v quicker and nrml thorough.-

Other objects 'are-to proyi'de'a :machine'that can'ihan'dle and rinsefbottles of "different sizes, of different diameters and of "differentheights,

' and. to fac litate "th adjustm nt trthe rnaa hi e tofbottles of any ofthese sizes. I 7

Further objects, mete-rinse-bottles-=ecntaining loosely packed fruits aswell 'asbottl-eswith tightly packed"fruits, and'tcjpreventescapof-fr-uits from .the bottles When thelatter are-turnedyfor rinsing.

J Stfllother objects aretostop the machine when a bottle topples into av position where-the :bottle Jams thehmachin movem nt there y p vbreakage v,ofjhotltlesrori larnage of machine parts,-

andtQPmvide a insin cmaohinethat operate smoothly and sorely Stillfurther obiectsare to provide the machine with-a t a sportmechanismmoyin ...thelbb,ttles durin the i sin operation over a predtermined track, tocarrythe, bottles tolberinsed; into thisotrack. to.carryth rinsed bottles out'hof this track, and .tocoeordinatethesemovements .of the bottles by gears nonnebfing the moving m ch- "Eor thispurpose, the

I tionally represented parts 'being I :cut -along-= the line"2-2 in Fig.1, some legs being broken" ofi.

3 shows 'acrosssectionof .-.a broken 01T- part of the same embodiment,this cross-section being taken along -the broken "line 3-4 in Figp'l,

part of the same embodiment.

Fig. -9 shows :a cross-sectionfitaken along-the hne9'9"in"1=ig.i8.

Fig-IO-shows a-view of this cage seenjfrom the left side in Fig; 8. x

' islishows aside. View o a nrokenomporo of a nnd ra kw o marhensediinthe.

r machineiswellrknownandismtre on frame f nhstantiall r s mb d ment thisbroken off portiomhemg.

represented unwound; a plane.

A hese f ures .are wrepreserrted okrsdmlfl al s- Ifho .sosle: offiig.3.,is less..reduced;than P o Fi s. 1 andiz. T'Ih scale pings-"Am 1 sstilljless reduced. jFig. 12 shows a ia 'ramor apimuit thatflma housedinthe same embodim nt. T"

YT- m d m ntv'shown in the drawings r r s,

a art o a machineac mhinationvwhich. i .addi-. m o .rsinemachinetwhicn.is;the subject m tt r o t s p ication. comprises a mahine br m-n and .ca ping..fruit. lciott1e s. lat,

resented e e n to the: drawi s srnnmeralvl indicates suppflrtlllg s motmprisingzthe fr mevh 31 i h 4 1 .1 med-with :traverses' whenever ne de"for reinforcement; or for f the :..'s-upncrt.of er. e em nts :ofxthezmachine. 5E0 example no, traverse 8 connects two of. the; legs I LShape. This jframe 1s;

Ffigszoi. n I a severa traverses :ll czltoss'kthe innerjlspacevof. h

Two plates or platforms l2 and I3 are aflixed on top of the frame I. Theplatform 12 may form a right angle having a short leg l4 extendingtoward the left side in Fig. l and having a longer leg [5 extendingtoward the lower side in Fig. 1 over a correspondingly shaped extensionI6 (Fig. 2) of the frame l. The platform [3 is positioned at that end ofthe frame-! which is at the right side in Fig. 1'.

A vertical shaft llpasses rotatably through a bore of the platform l2,and a similar shaft 18 passes rotatably through a bore of the platforml3. Each of the shafts ll and I8 is ailixed to a drum or horizontalwheel is which is positioned at a distance over the respective platform.The lower end of the shaft H is aflixed to a conical wheel 2|.

Each drum I9 is provided with recesses 22 dis tributed over itscylindrical circumference at equal intervals. Two wires or similarflexible elements 23 extend from one drum 19 to the other and around thefar sides of these drums. Each wire 23 is endlessly or circularlyconnected and may fit and enter circular grooves of the two drums. Anumber of blocks 23 have bores for the assage of the wires 23 and areaffixed to these wires at equal intervals corresponding to the intervalsbetween the recesses 22. The blocks 24 fit andvengage the recesses 23 ina manner similar to the links of a chain.

Each block 24 is permanently affixed to a cage 25 and forms an extensionof this cage. In Figs. 1 and 2, all cages 25 but one are omitted for thesake of clearer representation. The identical structure of all cages isbestto be seen in Figs. 8, 9 and lo. This structure comprises a bentwall 26 extending vertically when the cage is in erect position andsurrounding a cavity 2? adapted to receive a fruit bottle, for examplethe bottle 28 shown in Fig. 5. The wall 28 leaves open that side of thecavity which is the front side in Fig. 8, and may leave partially openthat side which is at the right side in this figure. The'left side'ofthe wall 23 is provided with a slot 29 for a purpose that will bedescribed later. A grate 3| extends perpendicularly to the side wall2B',across the top of the cavity 21. The position of this grate can beadjusted in a directionparallel to the side wall 26. For example,

'the'grate 3| has a dove-tailed projection 32 slidable in a verticaldove-tailedgroove 33 of the side wall 26. A slot 34 passes at the bottomof thegroove 33 through the side wall. This slot comprises narrowpassages connecting wider openings 35. A small case 36 is slidable alongthe slottedouter surface of the wall 23 and has openings through which athin stem 31 slidably passes. A button 38 is amxed to outer end of thestem 3?. The opposite end of this stem is provided with a cylindricalhead 33 which fits any of the openings 35 and reaches slidably into anopening of the grate 3!. A disk M positioned the case 36 is afiixed tothe stem 31. The case 36 furthercontains a spring 42 which urges thedisk M and hence the stem 31 outwardly into the position shown in Fig.9. V

In this position, the head 39 engages one of theopenings 35 whereby thegrate 3! is secured against sliding movement. 'In order to adjust thegrate to a different height, the button 33 is pressed. against theresistance-of the spring 42 whereby the head 39 is moved inwardly so farthatthe stem 3Tv eanslide through the narrow passagesof theslot 34. Thecase is then moved together. with the grate 3| up or down into aposition where the head 39 is in line with another opening 35. Then thespring 42 urges the stem outwardly and brings the head 39 into thisother opening, securing the grate at a level corresponding to this otheropening. In this manner the cage or its cavity can be adjusted forbottles of different heights.

The blocks 24 connect the cages 25 with the wires 23. Hence the cagesare movable in a circularly returning path determined by the wires 23.This path runs over and parallel to the platforms i2 and i3 and alongtwo wound or helical connections 33 extending from one platform to theother. Each of these connections is so shaped that its surface facingthe cage varies its inclination along the path between the twoplatforms. For example, this variation comprises two waves of the typeshown in Fig. 3. At a point 34 near to the platform i2, the inclinationis zero, the mentioned surface of the connection 33 having the samehorizontal direction as the platform. From 44 to 45, the inclinationincreases in substantially screw-like manner from zero to one hundredand thirty-five degrees. From 13 to 36, the inclination remains uniform,from 36 to ll, the inclination diminishes from one hundred andthirty-five degrees to zero. After a short horizontal stretch, thisincreasing and diminishing wave is repeated. The terminal line which isagain horizontal abuts the platform l3.

The cages 25 are so guided that each cage varies its inclination, whilemoving between the platforms, in the same manner as the surface of theconnections 53 whereby the longitudinal direction of the cage and of thebottles transported by this cage is always perpendicular to thissurface. Hence the entire path of the cages runs over and along astationary track which comprises horizontal stretches stretches. Theconnections 43 constitute track parts incorporating the wound andinclined track parts. A horizontal track part 43 leads over the platform53 Other horizontal track parts 43 and 5! are portions of the platforml2.

The track part 43 may form a solid body as shown in Fig.3 or may have agrate-like structure comprising longitudinal and spaced elements I 52which may be connected at intervals by traverses 53 as shown in Fig. 11.This track part may be supported in any suitable manner. For example,its ends may be afiixed to the platforms i2 and i3, and median pointsmay be carried by a traverse 5 laifixedto. the frame I. i

The cages 25 are guided on their path between the drums [9 by two guidemembers fafi which the cages engage by means of their blocks 24. Eachblock has a bore 56 in the direction of this path. Each member 55comprises an elongated cylindrical portion slidably fitting the bores 56and extending substantially horizontally in the direction of this path.The members 55 may have tapering ends '5 pointing toward the.circumferences of the drums [9 whereby the correct engagement of theguide member with a block approaching from a drum is facilitated.

Each guidemember 55 further comprises a lateral projection 58 forming astrip extending in partly winding direction along the cylindricalportion of the member. In Fig. 1, the scale does not allowrepresentation of this strip. In Fig. 3-, a small portion of the strip58 is visible. Fig. 4 shows the strip 58 clearly. The cross-section ofthis strip is substantially rectangular and has two parallel sides. 59which slidingly fit a slot 6| (Fig. 10) of each block 24. This slotextends and wound fromthe bore fi-ito that-side which sls opposite HencetheFblocks-an'd the cagesgmoving from one drum to the other, are "sogui'ded that they, in addition "tothis' progressive movement, turnoscillatingly-about'the direction of this movement. turning movementvaries-theposition-of the cages in a range of more thanninety,

- for example, 'in a=ra-nge of one hundred and thirty-five degrees.

Fromthe foregoingdescription. it is seen. that each "guide"member55,with exception of its tapering ends, has a uniform c-rss-secti0nc0mprising an eccentric portion, and thatthedirection'-of-eccentricity=of this-latter portion varies along themember. This variation is responsible for-the oscillating orturningmovementof the cages.

Eachguide member 55is supported by fiat holders 62 (Figspl and 4) whichare aflixed to the strip 58, extend therefrom in" the direction of-thestrips eccentri'city and are not thicker than the distance' 'betweenthestrip'sidesBQ or than the width of "thef slot -6l. The'holders arepreferably afilxed to strip portions that have horizontal sides "-59.'In" this case,'the holders of one guide=member 55 extend from thismember toward the other guide member or" toward the inner side of'the'path ofthe cages. "Each holder fizis-supported'bythe frame I. Forexample, each holder may be-a-mxed'toa post"63 which, in turn is afiixedto one of the-traverses ll (Fig.

3). When a block 24 passes a holder 62, the holder end affixed to thestrip passes-through the slot- H of the' block.

The bottoms of'the cages 25 are openand preferably slightly spaced fromthe track. The bottoms of the-bottles 28 *p'ositionedin the cavities 21reachthrough the openbottoms I of the cages into-sliding contactwith'the track. Wherenecessary or "desired, the track may be bordered bywalls. For example, a vertical wall 64 is aimed on top of the platformI3'andextends along the outer side ofthe track part 48, and

anothervertieal wall 65-aflixed on top-of the platform 12 extends alongthe outside of the track-part: The tracks and their walls contribute totheagui'd'ance of the bottles-and, "hence,

of the cages.

The drums l9 rotate'in the directions "of-the I arr'ows66. Hencethe-track part 49 is positioned reachesfromaaline 68 ."to a. line 69,crosses the track-part 4'9: and formsaugap' in this track part. Theconveyor GT'may be constituted by the upper surface of;aflexible elementor chain H of well known structure. :This surface is positioned at thesame. level as the platforms-and moves in the direction-f the arrow.121wherebybottles placed on the :outer :end i of :the 'conveyor arecarried towardxthczgap and'towardthe'path of'the' cages.

The chain 1 l:may=runaover a whee11 3 positioned -Inother words, thevariation-of the I plate 85 is slidably gui'de'd in a direction perpen-'dicu-lar to the-wall 8!. Thisplate is urged into near the end2 68rof'rth'e aslotzandsover aisimilar Wheehpositioned near the send .69. The:upper part of this *chainformingithe" conveyor B'IEmoves away *from the:wheel 1.3,: and the: lower part-:01 the chain returns to this :wheel."The wheel 13 theframe extension :16. "The-other wheel. engagingthechainfl I basa -shaft lli rotatable in bearings"H aflixed to :the'frame l.

vertical wall-18f is' :afiixed'" on top: oft-theepltttform li5 andextends along a side=.ofaethe; conveyor 6 I toward -that line 10f thegap -in 'kthe track'tpart 49 which, in the directiQn o'f the movement ofthe -cages, -is the 'beginningof the gap. *Theiwall' Mendsat a sIi'ghtdistance from the path -ofiithe cages =25 and-"has two 'finger likeprojactions =19" reaching 'into this path. The P cages pass over the-lower finger 19. "The upper finger' l9 is positioned a't'the level-offthe'slot m ".(Fig. 10)". whereby the cages 'can 'passrthe"'lattefifinger too. 1

A shorter wall 8| of -the same height as the wall 18 extends along theother-longitudinal side #of the-conveyor 61," ends ata slight"distanceff rom the path of the cages and points -toward that line ofthe gap in thetrack part '49 which in the directionof the movement ofthe cagesis the-end of 'this gap. The-extreme end 82-of the wall 8l maybe flexible. A preferably "resilient wall -83 thewall'fll maybe achievedhy'thefollowing structure: g P

"The platform l i'has'a groove in which a the shownposition, forexample, by'the tension of two springs 86. Each spring 86has one-endlater.

switch 9I of well "known structure =-serves*' tointerrupt thebottletransporting operation of the -machine. "For example, thisswitchinterrupts the electriccircuit' l25 ofamotor I24 '(Fig.

1-2 of' any known-ahd -suitable*type'from which thlS'ODGIQLtiOIliSderived. The switch 9! is op era-ted by an arm 92 which'has'a free endcarrymga rotatableroller ilit. A spring flhavingends aflixed to'the arm92 and to the housing of the switch 9'! .urges' the roller 93' intocontact with'the' projection '89. -"When the plate 85 is pressed againstthe tension of the springs 86* to the left side mFigfSjthe roller 93'drops fromthe-pro jection89 whereb'y the arm92*turns= and operatesthe-:switch'fl I.

,Ahorizontal' nlateiiliformssaniextension of the lower end ofthe:wal1:.8I-and hasa rim 96 xslidably contacting a ledgezBIwhich formsa'rprojection tend in ;-a direction which divides ithe angle--;betweenthe tracki49 and vthe .COWVBYOI'TBT. 'I-ll";th8

directions whereby "the ledge '91 divides into 7... halves'the anglebetween these directions. The plate 95 has two slots 98 and 99 extendingparallel to the ledge 91. Two headed bolts III and H2 pass, throughthese slots and have threaded lower ends H3 (Fig. 6) engagingcorrespondingly threaded holes of the plate 85. The head of the bolt IIImay contact the plate 95 without presthe ledge 91. Such adjustmentchanges the distance of the wall 8I from the wall I8 in the same degreeas the distance of the wall BI from the path of the cages. Hence oneadjustment is sufficient for adjusting both tracks 49 and 6'! to bottlesof a different diameter.

A bottle brining and capping machine of known type has a movableconveyor for the transport of bottles. The starting end I I of thisconveyor forms an element incorporated in the shown embodiment and ajoint element of the rinsing and of the brining and capping machine. Thelatter conveyor may have the same structure as the track 61. Theconveyorend H5 extends into a slot of the platform part I4 as far asline H5 (Fig- 1) and runs over a wheel II I positioned near this line.The wheel I I! has a shaft H8 rotatable in bores of walls I I9 affixedto the frame I. These walls may extend from the line H5 beyond thebroken off left end of Fig. 1 and may connect the shown embodiment ofthe rinsing machine with the brining and capping machine.

The conveyor H5 has its upper surface at the level of the platform I4.This conveyor part runs from the upper side of the wheel III through agap in the platform I4 toward the capping machine and returns therefromto the lower rim of this wheel. Two walls I2I and I22 are affixed on topof the projecting portions of the walls I I 9. The wall I2! extendsalong one side of the conveyor I I5 and is so outwardly bent that thiswall abuts the wall 65. The wall I22 extends along the other conveyorside, ends at a slight distance from the path of the cages and pointstoward that line of the gap in the platform I4 which, in the directionof the movement of the cages, is the end of the gap. Two fingers I23extend from the wall I22 into the path of the cages at the same levelsas the'fingers I9 of the wall I8.

The. movements of the cages and of the conveyors 61 and H5 arepreferably co-ordinated by interconnected gears. For example, the drumsI9 moving the cages, and the conveyor 61 may derive motion from thewheel III engaging the conveyor I I5. This latter conveyor and the wheelII'I may be driven in well known manner by a motor I24 which is anelement of the capping machine and is operated by an electric circuit I25 (Fig. 12) deriving current from tapping poles I 26 of an electricnetwork. In the shown embodiment, the co-ordination of these movementsis achieved in the following manner:

The shaft H8 of the wheel H1 is aflixed to another wheel I21. A chainI28 connects the latter wheel with'a wheel I29 which is afiixed to ashaft I3I. The shaft I3! is rotatably supported by bearings affixed tothe frame I. For example, this shaft may pass through a bore of atransverse I32 of the frame-work- A conical wheel I33. is affixed to,the inner end of the shaft with olives and pimentos, are placed in erectposir tionon the outer part of the conveyor 5?.

tionary track.

I3Ij and engages the conical wheel 2|. In this manner, the wheel II'Idrives the wheel 2| and, hence, the shaft I! and the drum I9 afiixed tothe latter shaft. This drum causes circular transport of the blocks 24,cages 25 and wires 23.

The wheel 2| further engages another conical wheel I35 afiixed to ashaft I35 which is rotatable in bores of traverses a. A wheel I36 isaffixed to thesame shaft. A chain I3! connects the-wheel its with awheel I38 afixed to the shaft "It, in a manner which reverses thedirection of rotation. For example, the chain I3! may additionally runover an idle or guide wheel I39 having a shaft Mi rotatable in anotherbore of the traverse 8. In this manner, the wheel HI drives the shaft,

it from whichthe movement of the conveyor 61 is derived as has beendescribed before.

A water supply is arranged over the path of the cages 25 and maycomprise a U-shaped tube I42 semicircularly extending over that part ofthe stationarytrack it which is at the right side in Fig. l and reachingin straight directions into This tube receives water through a tube M3from a suit- The tube It? has a number of outthe space over the tracks39 and 55.

able source. lets HM distributed over the horizontal stretches of thestationary track. The outlets M l are so high that the cages can passunder the outlets. Preferably, each of the horizontal stretches ispositioned under several outlets hi4.

The tube M2 may be supported by the fram For example, the- I in suitablemanner. posts 63 are arranged in pairs and a bridge I45 connects the topends of each pair of posts. These bridges carry the tube I42.

The described machine operates as follows: A quantity of bottles ofuniform size is treated in one continuous run of the machine. The walliii is adjusted to the diameter of these bottles in the manner describedbefore. The cage grate 3i is adjusted to the height of these bottles asdescribed before. Then, the motor is started and open bottles filledwith fruits, for example,

The further. operation is completely automatic.

The conveyor 6? transports the bottles toward thepath of the. cages 25.Each bottle reachingv this path enters the cavity ofa cage which, atthat time passes over the'gap in the track 48. The speeds of theconveyor 6'? and of the cages are so co-ordinated that, whenever afollowing bottle arrives in this gap, a following cage is in positionfor receiving this bottle. The cage transports the bottle along itspath, the bottom of the bottle sliding over the stationary track.

During this transportation, the bottle is held in a uniform definiteposition relatively to the cage by co-operation of the cage and of thesta- The bottle is held in its. axial direction without considerableclearance between the adjusted cage grate 3i and the stationary track.In the direction of transportation, the sliding bottom of the bottle isguided by and remains parallel to the stationary track while a side of-the bottle extends in contact with the cage wall 28 parallel to theWall 25 and perpen- 63, the cage tilting with the bottle in accordancewith the inclination ofthe track 43 because of thecorrespondingly woundprojection 58 of, the.

gnideemember: 55:; this manner; the: guide memberzfiaand thetrackadsco-operate in guiding andrtiltinggthefi'bottle.

Anotherz-function' and-advantage ofwthe stationary; track is.that'athis. track makespossible the described simple andreliabletarrangement for feedingi;the bottle :intoor OUt'IOfthepathtofthe cages" Theiposition of the-bottle during itstransportation:by'. the cage is sufficiently determined by the cagewall 26, the grate3 l and'the station-- aryz-tracky The bottom' and one side of thecagemay -be::open.i. This open cage structure (made possiblebythestationary'track) allows the'feeding of thflrbflttlGt into the: cage. onaaconveyor reaching into. atrack gapunder the cage, where thebottle...Thequantity of; this water supply may bezlarger 'than: the bottles canreceive. In this case,:'somewater" will flow over themouth of the bottlewherebythe fruitsare partially rinsed. A more thoroughchange of rinsingwater occurs While theabottle-is carried along the further :trackcomprising; thewound and. inclined track parts.

several times. For example; the shown embodiment comprises. four woundtrack parts, of'the typeillustratedby Fig. 3, each part causingdischarge. of water supplied to the bottles during their-passageover apreceding horizontal track part,

When a: bottle reaches the gap in the track 5I,lthe bottle slides ontheconveyor 1 I5 and is interceptedlbythe fingers I23. The conveyor I I5moves the bottle towardthe brining and capping machine where the bottlemay be salted and capped in known manner.

When a bottle topples before being properly While the bottle is sengaged, only a portion of the bottle willenter the cage'while anotherportion remains between the walls 18 and 8!. Such "a toppled bottle ob.-structs the progress of the cage and would cause breakage either of thebottle or of a part of the transport mechanism if the latter wouldcontinue moving. This disadvantage is avoided in the following manner:

The pressure of the moving cage presses the toppled bottle against thewall 8|. This wall, together with the plate 85, slides in the directionof this pressure, overcoming the tension of the springs 86. Thereby theswitch v9 interrupts the circuit of the motor in the manner describedbefore whereupon the transport of the cage stops. When the correcterect'position of the bottle has been restored, the springs 85 move thewall 8| back into the previous position, the switch closes the circuitagain, and the transport operation is resumed.

I desire it understood that my invention is not confined to theparticular embodiment shown and described, the same being merelyillustrative, and that my invention may be carried out in other wayswithout. departingifromrthe spiritof my invention .as it is obvious thatthe particular embodiment shown and described is onlyoneof the many that"maybe employed to: attain -the-:ob jects of my invention; For example,the'brining or salting operation, instead-of being 'carriedout by the-capping machine, maybe taken over by tho-se' outlets 4 M ofthe rinsingmachine" which are spositioned over the track-part .5! and, hence,follow-ther-1ast :woundtrack parts; 1

Having: described the nature of tmy invention, what Ixclaimr and:desire-to-protectby Letters Patent is: f

l. A machine for rinsing-,bottled'fruits,-comprisin Eaguide member 5extending; inla substantial'ly horizontal. gdirection-tand. having; aguiding surface extending parallel-to said t'directionialong a iportion'nof. saidv :member: and ,beingjxsor; wound along; another.portion of said, memberrthat tthe inclination; of said:surfaceealternatelyr increases and diminishes iniraerange of more. thanninety I degrees; a cage slidably engaging said;guide.memher and:surface; arropen. :bottle held: in said :cage in a, definitedirectiontrelatively to 'said'ca'ge; said latter direction being rvertically upright when saidrcage-iengagesa :said: first: mentionedmember portion, means 'movingfsaid cage along. saidguide member-wherebysaid. cage? and. saidibottl tilt oscillatingly': when said cage slidesalong said othermemberportiomisaidfcage having an opening positionedover said bottle in-uprightposition of the latter; and an aperture'delement attached to saidficage and ,positioned'across said opening, eachaperture ofsaid element being narrower than said bottle wherebysaidbottle is prevented from fallingiout of said 'cage in tilted position;2L" A machine 'forrinsing bottled fruits,coniprising a -guidememberexte'nding in a substantially-horizontal direction and having' aguiding surface extending parallel to said direction along aportiono-f"" said= member-and being so wound along another portion ofsaid member that the inclination of saidsurface alternately increasesand "diminishes in-a I range of more than ninety degrees; a stationarytraclc extending alon g=said guide member-' at a uniform distancetherefrom, having a-horizontalportion along said first mentionedporti-onof saidinem-ber and being so wound along I said other' portion of said"member that the "inclination" ofsaid track varies in accordance withtheinclination ofsaid'guiding surface, a-'cage s lidabl engagingsaidguide member and surface and having a bottom opening "facing said track,an open bottle held in said cage in a definite direction relatively tosaid cage, reaching through said bottom opening and having a bottomslidably contacting said track, said latter direction being verticallyupright when said cage engages said first mentioned member portion,means moving said cage along said guide member whereby said cage andsaid bottle tilt oscillatingly when said cage slides along said othermember portion, said cage having an opening positioned over said bottlein upright position of the latter, and an apertured element attached tosaid cage and positioned across said opening, each aperture of saidelement being narrower than said bottle whereby said bottle is preventedfrom falling out of said cage in tilted position.

3. A machine for rinsing bottled fruits, comprising a guide memberextending in a substan tially horizontal direction and having a guidingsurface extending parallel to said direction along a portion of saidmember and being so wound along another portion of said member that the11 inclination of said surface alternately increases and diminishes in arange of more than ninety degrees, a cage slidably engaging said guidemember and surface, an open bottle held in said cage in a definitedirection relatively to said cage, said latter direction beingvertically upright when said cage engages said first mentioned memberportion, means moving said cage along said guide member whereby saidcage and said bottle tilt oscillatingly when said cage slides along saidother member portion, said cage having an opening positioned over saidbottle in upright position of the latter, and a grate positioned acrosssaid opening.

4. A machine for rinsing bottled fruits, comprising a stationary trackhaving horizontal parts and inclined parts and having a gap in ahorizontal part, a cage having a cavity for the reception of a bottle,means moving said cage in a path parallel to and along said stationarytrack and over said gap, said cage having an open bottom facing saidstationary track whereby a bottle in said cavity can reach through saidcage bottom into sliding contact with said stationary track, and aconveyor reaching into said gap in a direction crossing said path, saidconveyor having a horizontal conveying surface flush with saidhorizontal track part, said cage having an open side facing, when saidcage moves over said gap, that side from which said conveyor reachesinto said gap.

5. A machine for rinsing bottled fruits, comprising a stationary trackhaving horizontal parts and inclined parts and having a gap in ahorizontal part, a cage having a cavity for the reception of a bottle,means moving said cage in a path parallel to and along said stationarytrack and over said gap, said cage having an open bottom facing saidstationary track whereby a bottle in said cavity can reach through saidcage bottom into sliding contact with said stationary track, a conveyorreaching into said gap in a direction crossing said path, said conveyorhaving a horizontal conveying surface flush with said horizontal trackpart, said cage having an open side facing, when said cage moves oversaid gap, that side from which said conveyor reaches into said gap, andtwo parallel vertical walls positioned along the longitudinal sides ofsaid conveyor, being higher than said conveying surface and ending at aslight distance from said path, one of said walls being adjustable byshift parallel to itself in a direction dividing into halves the anglebetween the direction of said conveyor and the direction of said pathcrossed by said conveyor direction whereby adjustment of said latterwall simultaneously and equally changes the distance of the adjustedwall from said path and from the other wall.

6. A machine for rinsing bottled fruits, comprising a stationary trackhaving horizontal parts and inclined parts and having a gap in ahorizontal part, a cage having a cavity for the reception of a bottle,means moving said cage in a path parallel to and along said stationarytrack and over said gap, said cage having an open bottom facing saidstationary track whereby a bottle insaid cavity can reach through saidcage bottom into sliding contact with said stationary track, a conveyorreaching into said gap in a direction crossing said path, said conveyorhaving a horizontal conveying surface flush with said horizontal trackpart, said cage having an open side facing, when said cage moves oversaid gap, that side from which said conveyor reaches into said gap, anda vertical wall positioned alon a longitudinal side of said conveyor,being higher than said conveying surface, ending at a slight distancefrom-said path and having a finger-like extension reaching into saidpath, said cage having a slot so positioned that said cage can pass saidextension.

BERNARD C. EISENBERG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Germany Jan. 5, 1931

